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Commission approves amended porch proposal at continued hearing, debate over vinyl siding in McKnight Historic District
Summary
At a continued hearing for a property in the McKnight Historic District, the commission approved an amended certificate of appropriateness to allow wood shakes and hardy board trim while several neighbors objected to proposed vinyl siding. Commissioners and residents discussed trim dimensions and reuse of original lattice.
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Historic Preservation Commission approved an amended certificate of appropriateness at a continued public hearing for a property in the McKnight Historic District while residents urged against vinyl siding and asked that trim and porch details match historic character.
Al Gardy, chair of the commission, opened the continued hearing for the petitioner, who presented revisions including a rebuilt porch and replacement of porch flooring after rot was discovered. The petitioner said they planned to rebuild the porch with no aesthetic change and to replace nonhistorical handrails with historically informed designs.
Neighbor Jim Boone told the commission the proposed use of vinyl siding on new houses has repeatedly been rejected elsewhere in the district and urged the commission to deny vinyl for this project. “This commission has never allowed vinyl siding on new construction in the neighborhood,” Boone said. Resident Erica Swallow suggested hardy board as an alternative, noting recent local examples that use hardy board successfully. Harry Seymour and other neighbors also offered support for the petitioner’s revised porch but opposed vinyl.
Commissioners reviewed details such as corner-board and trim dimensions; staff and the petitioner agreed to use wider corner boards and to match columns and trim to historic dimensions. The petitioner said they would reuse the existing diamond-lattice where practical but had replaced some lattice in prior work.
A motion to accept the application with amendments for corner boards, wood shakes and scallop details carried. Commissioners emphasized that final work must match the approved materials and dimensions supplied to staff.
The action approved restoration and replacement elements described in the application but did not permit vinyl siding on the building’s visible elevations in the McKnight Historic District.
Commissioners noted that one absent commissioner could not vote and that the approval required the affirmative votes of those present.
